Portable landing dock



Nov. 18, 1952 c. *r. HOLsTEN PORTABLE LANDING DOCK Filed Feb. 18, 1948 N 5 W M N H W0 A H T @v WW Nov. 18, 1952 c. 'r. HOLSTEN 2,618,124

PORTABLE LANDING nocx Filed Feb. 18, 1948 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CLARENCE Zfiown-w A -r TORNE YJ 1952 c. T. HOLSTEN PORTABLE LANDING DOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 18, 1948 IN VEN TOR. CLARENCE 7.' HOL STEN Q 'Q, M4 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

til

spring when thezice thaws awayfrom the "shore line, =may be so great that it will destroy .or wreck almost any form of supporting structure roria-dock.

It has therefore been found necessary, vparticularly at fishing resorts,-that the docksbe-so constructed that-theymay-be taken down in the fallrand stored away during the winter months to save the-m from the -destructive forcesof the vice, and y it :is the purpose of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensivestructure or landingrdock'which is soconstructed that it may readily and quickly be-erected and extended outwardly into the lake'any desired distance,-and whichmay be as readily taken down in the :fall, at the close of the Iboating season and packed away in a-comparatively :small storagespace.

A further object-of .thelinventionisto provide a :portable dock comprising a plurality of sections adapted to be interconnected 'to I: provide a composite dock .of \any .desired length the con.- nections between said sections Jbeing .siich that asinglepersonimay erect the dock witheutiwalking-inithe water. In other words, the -dock may be erected by positioning and anchoring the first or initial section, "and thereafter successively erecting additional sections and extending the dock .out'into the lake'the desired distance, the first erected dock sections being used by "the person to walk-back and forth on until the dock has been extended the desired distance out into the-lake.

A further object is toprovide a novel coupling device for "coupling together the sections of the dock and whereby said sections are not likely to become disengage'd from one another once they have been properly positioned on their supports.

A further object is to provide 'aninexpensive hammer for driving the supporting posts into 2 the ground, 'me'ans being .jprov-ided ifor-locking the coupling devices to-theirrespective gpbStS at any desired height "With relationto the surface of the water.

Other objects 0f -:the invention reside in -the specific construction of the coupling device whereby once the supporting posts have been driven into the-bottom of the -lake and the dock sections have been positioned thereon, should the levelof the water in the lake rise to theextent that it would be desirable to elevate "the dock, such elevation ofthe vdock--sectionsamay readily be---accomplished "by manipulation of the latch means carried -on the coupling 1 members, and which also serve --to secure the dock sections against r'elative downward movement "on their respective supporting posts, such vertical adjustment .of the Y-docksections upon their supporting posts being possible without dismantling the docksections;inthe. pivotal co'nnections provided betweenadjacent doek sections, whereby the operation of successively erecting the dock sections or dismantling them is greatly faeilitated; and in the provision of a portable dock of -this general type which isextremely simple and inexpensive in construction, whereby it readilyrlends itself for manufacture in quantity production catilow cost.

Other objects of the invention will'appearjfrom the following description and the accompanying drawings and will be pointedfou't iinfthe annexed claims. I

In the accompanying drawings there hasbeen disclosed a structure designed to "carry out -th'e various objects of theinven'tion, but it is to be understood thatthe-invention isinot confinedto the exact features shown, as "various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure '1 is an elevational'view'of my improved dock showing in dotted lines the manner "of erecting additional sections, the dotted -lines-also indicating how the'se'ctions are swung upwardly when it is desired to dismantle ortake'down'the dock;

Figure 2 is a plan view'of "Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view showing'a side portion'of the dock with "thecoupling'device: operatively connecting together the'enlds of *adjacent dock sections, and "also showin'g the latch means provided'onthecoupling devices for securing the dock sections '"in position upon their upright supporting posts.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view on -the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

moved upwardly on the post, or to permit the.

post to be moved downwardly on the coupling member.

The novel dock herein disclosed and as best shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a plurality of sections identified by the numerals 2, 3 and 4,

which may be substantially alike in construction. Each section comprises a pair of spaced side rails 5 to which the dock boards 6 are secured in spaced relation in the usual manner. The boards 6 may be nailed to the side rails 5 in such a manner as to provide integral dock sections which may readily be transported from one place to another and stacked one on top of another when not in use.

The shore section 2' of the dock to be erected is shown having one end supported upon a suitable cross member, generally designated by the numeral 1. This member may be in the form of a single timber, or it may be composed of two relatively smaller timbers 8 secured together in fiatwise relation,- as shown in Figure 7. Suitable brackets 9 are secured to the'ends of the cross member 1 by such means as bolts H, and each has a box-shaped end 9 which extend outwardly from the ends of the cross member 1 and cooperate therewith to provide sockets for receiving upright posts I2 which may be driven into the ground adjacent'to' the waters edge, as shown in Figure l, to provide a support for one end of the shore section 2.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the construction of the means provided for coupling together the various sections of the dock, and whereby the sections may be readily and quickly coupled together to extend the dock to any desired length, and also whereby the sections may be readily detached from one another,

as when the dock as a whole is to be dismantled Z or taken down for winter storage, or for other purposes.

. 'As best shown inFigures 3 to 6, inclusive, a coupling member, generally designated by the numeral 13, is 'shownmade from sheet metal to provide, abox-like portion l4 having and walls I5 and IS, an outside wall I1, and end portions 18 and Hi. The end portions [8 and I9. are adapted to be seated against the side. rails 5 of the dock section, and are secured thereto'by suitable bolts 2i and 22, shown in Figures 3 to 6, inclusive.

The wall portions l5, I6 and I? of each couplin member [3 cooperate with the adjacent or outer facesof the side rail 5 to provide rectangular sockets or guides corresponding in size and shape to the box-like guides provided at the ends of the cross member '7, whereby a suitable supporting post 23 maybe slidably supported therein, as will be understoodby reference to Figure 1.

The upright supporting posts 23 may vary in length, depending upon .the inclination of the bottom of the lake, as shown in Figure 1, and are adapted to be driven into the lake bottom, as shown, a distance sufiicient to provide a substantial support for the dock.

Means is provided for locking the dock sections to the upright supporting posts 23 whereby they may be retained thereon at any desired elevation with respect to the level of the water. The means provided for thus securing the dock sections in adjusted position on the supporting members 23 is best shown in Figures 3 to 6, and includes a pair of latch members 24, shown pivoted on bolts 25 supported in apertures. provided in lug 21 which, for economy, may be struck from the walls l5 of their respective coupling members M, as best illustrated in Figure 6, whereby an opening 28 is provided in the wall l5 of each coupling member 13, as shown. The latch members 24, as hereinbefore stated, are pivoted on their respective pivot bolts 25, and each has one end adapted to traverse the opening 28 in the adjacent wall l5 of its coupling member I3, to thereby project into one of a plurality of sockets 29 provided in the adjacent edges of the uprights 23, as clearly illustrated in' Figures 4, 5 and 6. Each upright may be provided with a metallic wear strip or facing plate 3| to reinforce the edges of the sockets 29, as will be understood.

When the weight of the dock sections are supported upon the uprights 23, the latch member 24 of each coupling member I3 will be in the position shown in full lines in Figure 5. When so positioned, it will be noted the upper edge 32 of the latch member is engaged with the upper wall of the opening 28 in the wall l5 of the coupling member, whereby the end portion of the latch member received in the socket 29 cannot'swing upwardly, thereby securing the deck section against downward movement on the upright posts 23. I

Each latch member has a yoke shaped mem ber 33 pivoted theretoby a suitable pivot bolt 34, and is normally positioned as shown in full lines in Figures 3 and 5, whereby the relative up and down movement of the dock sections with respect to the supporting posts 23 is limited to the up and down clearance or play provided in the sockets 29 for the end of the latch member, as

' will be understood by reference to Figure 5. The

extending end portion l9 of each coupling member is shown provided with a vertically disposed slot 35 which is open at its top, and terminates at its lower end in an enlarged opening 35', shown in full lines in Figure 5, and dotted lines in Figure 3. Shouldered studs, generally designated by the numeral 31, are secured to the adjacent ends of the side rails 5 of the next dock section 3, as clearly. shown in Figures} and 4. These studs constitute, in effect, the heads of bolts 39, received in apertures provided in the side rails ,5. and to which they are secured by nuts 4|.

Each stud 31 has an enlarged portion 38 which is elongated in a direction transversely of the axis of the bolt shank 39, as best shown in Figures 3 and 5. The small or vertical dimension of the enlarged portion 38 of each stud 3'! is substantially equal to or slightly less than the diameter of the bolt portion 39 of each stud, and the long or horizontal dimension of each portion 33 slightly less than the diameter of the enlarged opening 36 provided at the bottom of each slot 35. It will thus be noted by reference to Figure 3, that the studs 31 are secured to their respective side rails of each dock section with their long dimension of their enlarged portions 38 being disposed lengthwise of the side rails 5.

When attaching a second dock section to one previously erected as, for example, dock section 2, the section tobe added will be raised to an up lright position, with :the studsends :of its .sidexrails itions, thersupporting posts .23 :of each'dockssecition are inserted :in :the sockets provided in .the .couplingmembersm ofzsaidsection, and thelatch locking'elements 33 then positioned asshown in full :lines in :Figure 5, whereby :the 'outer ends of lthfi latch members 24 xcannot :swing upwardly .to permit the posts to become disengaged from the coupling member l3, when lowering the .dock section to its horizontal operative-position, in- :.dicated: in :Figure 51. In 'other'words, when lower- ,ing a-.dock:;section;into position, :as indicated -.at I

43 in Figure :1, -:the supporting posts --23lof said dock section will besuspendedlfromthe outerend .of the dock section as a result-of the upper walls 44 .of the-sockets -2-9 engaging the adjacent ends toif the latch members 24, andzbetcause the-latch "members are: locked-against relative pivotal move- .ment by the yokes 33 engaging the walls tiixof :the coupling members, as shown 'zil'l full lines .in .Figurez5.

:When the :dock ESECtiOIl has 2b een flowered I to its horizontal position, asshown in full :lines "in Fig- .ure 1, the r-yo'ke-shaped members :33 are. swung to their inoperative positions, :indicated at :45 :in .Eigure.5,- whereupon:.the dock sectionmayxeadily be moved .upwardly 1 on the posts or uprights 23, asz-thelatch-'membersfl are-thenfree .to' beswung upwardly, when the dock :and supporting posts :are relatively .movedzin. opposite direetions,-.as {indicated by the arrows in Figure 8. This permits .theuprightposts 23 to be driven intoithe mud or; sand ito the proper depth. and the l end-; of the dew section :supported :thereon lmay then 'rbe :quickly adjusted :to .the proper -;elevation zby manipulation 10f the L-latch membersr24. .-In Fig- ;ure; 8, f-the latch :member is shown in the .posi "tion :assumediwhenzthe dock :isrrelatively tmove'd upwardly son :the post .23, or "which, position :may also-be assumed when the most :26 .is :moved .or driven downwardly :relative to ?the :dock.

.Referringagain :to thetfirst section '2 of ':the

deck, the upright supporting po'stsTlZ thereof may be provided with lhorizontal ly disposed :ap- Fertures 46 adapted :to :register xwith-zaligned zan- 'aertures :47 provided in the box-like guides tor brackets 1.9 of the :crossmiember :1, whereby bolts may be inserted through .thezwalls a of the :brack- :ets 9 randvtheirisupporting posts .12 .to :thereby support "the razdjacent end of Lthe .dock "upon the posts. :Thecrossmember 11 :may beisupportedrdirectly npon tthe ground, .01 upon Jstnnes :plac'ed .on. :the rground :in; lieu :of anchoring :the brackets 19' totheiposts :l 2 :byftheninsertion of hol ts through the aligned-openings :46 and i4! providedin the posts .12 and brackets :9, .:respectiv.ely.

rsuita'hle ;:hook elements 1-43 are shown having 7':

their upper horizontal end :por-tions .49 rreceived inlaperturessprovidedin the side rails '5, and their .verticalipontions. are received-in apertures-provided. inathe ycross rail .1. The apertures-provided in the .crossrail 1 58,18 prefer-ablyslightly. larger than .the verticalshanks oftheh'ook elements148 whereby the latter may move freely up "and ..down :therein, should the water level reach :the dock sections, or in the event large -waves splash against-the dock and tendi'to lift itfrom'its moorings. The. lower ends :of the hook elements are threaded as shown in 5| .to receivesuitablenuts .52 which preventthe hook elements from becoming disengaged from the cross member fly-as .willbe'understood by reference to 'Figure 7.

In the operation of erecting the novel .dock hereindisclosed, thezshort upright or shore posts .I'2.are driven into-the ground with the posts pass- .ingthrough the box-shaped guides.9 of the cross member has shown in'F'igure 7. When the cross member .1 is placed in substantially a horizontal-position on the ground,1the brackets-Qatthe ends thereof form guides. for supportingthe; posts 12,:as they' are driven into the ground. I

The hook elements 48, shownin Figure 7,-are' then inserted through the apertures provided in the adjacent endsofthesideu'ailsfi of dock-section 2, andthe vertical portions of thehook-elements are then inserted through suitable aperturesprovidedinthe cross member .1. :A-pairof uprights or supporting members -23 arethen inserted through the guides provided in thereonplingmembers l3 securedto theside-rails ofdock section 2 at the outer end of the dock section, and are adjusted to a position therein whereby when .the lower-ends of the posts engage the bottom of the lake, theouter endof the dock willbe'disposed at an elevation above the shore .end -of thedock. The posts 23 at the outer endof dock ection 2 -may then xbe driven .into the mud-or sand at-the bottom of the lakeandtheouterrend of the dock section elevatedto the desired height by manipulation of the latch members 24, as hereinbefore described.

Nuts 52 are shown secured to the lower .ends of the hook. element 4.8 to prevent .saidr elements from accidentally withdrawing from the cross member 3, should the water level rise to .an-elevation which-might tend t lift the .dock from its normal position on its support '9, 0r in the event a large waveshould tend .to lift the dock.

Dock section 3 is next prepared for erection which isaccomplished byinserting apair-ofsupporting posts 23 in its coupling members :l.-3 ,and then upendingsaid section. and insertingzitsrstuds 3'! in the verticallydisposed slots -3 5 .ofdocksseetion 2, as shown in .dottedlines in Figure-5, .A light weight rope may .then be attached to .the outer end of dock section .3-whereupon it mayJoe lowered to .its horizontal position by a person standing-on dock section 2, until .itssupporting posts engage the bottom of the lake. .fIThe postsof dock section '3 may then bedriven into the-mud at the .bottcmof thelake in a manner :similarito the-posts at the oppositeend thereof, after which theouterendof dock section 3 maybe similarly vertically adjustedon itssupportingposts 23 by manipulation of the latch members 24, as hereinbefore described.

The above operation. is repeatedwitheachdock section, whereby-it will be notedthat the dockmay be extended out into the lake any desired distance. Docks of "this type designed for lake dwellers or vacationists may be made comparatively light in weight. Each section may be made about four feet long and perhaps threefeet wide whereby thesections may readily be handledby one person. I

The coupling members It providedatthe outer ends :of the dock sections make it possible .for a single person to expeditiously erect a dock withrope to the outer end of the last or outermost section and upwardly swinging it to substantially the dotted line positionshown at 42 in Figure 5, after 'Which'it may readily be lifted out of engagement with the next successive dock section and carried up on shore where the upright supports 23 are disengaged from the dock section to facilitate storage. This operation is repeated until all sections have been dismantled.

There may be instances where the upright posts may have a tendency to resist upward pulling.

from the bottom of the lake when the time comes to dismantle the clock. In such cases it may be necessary to use other means for withdrawing the posts. In some instances suitable cross members 53 may be suitably secured between the uprights 23, particularly if the water is deep which may require rather long supports. These cross members are secured to the supports or posts before being lowered into the water whereby they do not complicate erection or dismantling of the dock.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects of my invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention: 1

1. A portable dock comprising a plurality of sections each comprising side rails having deck forming panels secured thereto, said sections being arranged in endwise relation to provide a composite 'dock of any desired length, a pair of coupling'members attached to one end of each dock section one at each side thereof for coupling together said sections, upright supporting posts vertically slidable within said coupling members each having one edge provided with a plurality of vertically spaced sockets, latch members carried by the coupling members and engageable with the sockets in said posts to secure the coupling members thereto, and means operable in conjunction with the latch members whereby the dock sections may be vertically adjusted upon said posts to properly space the dock from the water level.

2. A portable dock comprising a plurality of sections each comprising side rails having deck forming panels secured thereto, said sections being arranged in endwise relation to provide a composite dock of any desired length, transverse means adjacent to the shoreline for supporting one end of one of said dock sections, a pair of coupling members secured one to each side of the outer end of said first section, sockets in said coupling members for receiving a pair of upright posts adapted to engage the bottom of the lake to provide a support for the outer end of said first dock section, and pivoted elements carried by said coupling members adapted to interlock with spaced notches in said upright posts thereby to support the outer end of the dock section against downward movement on said posts.

3. In a dock of the class described, a plurality of sections each comprising spaced side rails having deck portions secured thereto, means adjacent to the shore line for supporting one end of one of said dock sections, a pair of coupling members secured to the outer ends of the side rails of said first dock section, said coupling members having sockets therein for receiving a pair of upright posts adapted to engage the bottom of the lake to provide a support for the outer end of said first dock section, latch members pivoted to said coupling members adapted to interlock with spaced notches in said upright posts to support the outer end of the dock section against downward movement on said posts, and means for connecting a second dock section to said coupling members.

4. In a dock of the class described, a plurality of sections each comprising rails having deck forming panels secured thereto, means for anchoring one end of one dock section to the shore, opposed coupling members secured to the outer end of each dock section and each having a vertically disposed guide opening therein, upright supporting posts adapted to be received in said guide openings, each post having a plurality of spaced notches in a side thereof spaced apart lengthwise of the post, a latch member pivoted to each coupling member and adapted to interlock with the notches in said posts to prevent relative downward movement of the dock sections on said posts, means for locking the latch members in position to secure the coupling members against up or down movement on said posts, and means whereby the latch members may be positioned to permit the dock sections to be ver tically adjusted upon the supporting posts to vary the distance between the top of the dock and the water level.

5. In a dock of the class described, a plurality of sections each having spaced rails to which suitable deck forming panels are secured, means for anchoring one end of one of said sections to the shore, opposed coupling members secured to the side rails of each dock section adjacent the outer ends thereof, each coupling member having a vertically disposed guide opening therein, upright supporting posts adapted to be received in said guide openings, a latch member pivoted to each coupling member and adapted to interlock with means on the upright posts to support the dock section'on said posts above the lake level, each coupling member having one end projecting beyond its respective side rail and having a vertical slot therein, and outwardly projecting studs secured to the opposite ends of the rails of each section, the studs of one rail section being adapted to be received in the slots provided in the projecting ends of the coupling members of an adjacent dock section, whereby one end of each dock section is supported upon upright posts while the opposite end thereof is supported upon an adjacent dock section.

6. A coupling member of the class described comprising plate portions adapted to be seated against the side rails of a dock section and having means for securing them thereto, said coupling member being formed of sheet metal and having an ofiset portion between said plate portions cooperating with the adjacent side face of the side rail to form a rectangular guide opening adapted to receive a supporting post, one of said plate portions having a slot therein adapted to receive a stud secured to the side rail of an adjacent dock section, whereby the end of said adjacent dock section may be pivotally supported on said coupling member, and latch means carried by the coupling member for securing it to a post received in the guide opening provided in the coupling member.

'7. A coupling member of the class described comprising plate portions adapted to be seated against the side rail of a dock section and having means for securing them thereto, said coupling member being formed of sheet metal and having an offset portion between said plate portions cooperating with the adjacent side face of the side rail to form a rectangular guide opening adapted to receive a supporting post, one of said plate portions, being relatively longer than the other and having a vertically disposed slot therein which is open at its top, said slot being adapted to receive a stud secured to the side rail of an adjacent dock section whereby the end of said adjacent dock section may be pivotally supported on the coupling member of an adjacent dock section, and a latch member carried by the coupling for securing it to a post received in said guide opening, thereby to secure the coupling member to said post.

8. A portable dock for watercraft comprising a rectangular dock section having sides and ends, a pair of supporting legs adjacent one end of said dock section said legs projecting substantially normal to the plane of the dock and one of said legs being adjacent each side edge thereof, pivot connection means for connecting successive dock sections together with the pivot axis substantially in the plane of the dock and transversely to the length of the dock section, including separable pivot elements fastened on opposite ends of the dock sections adjacent each side of said section and in a position thereon so that the separable pivot elements on one dock section will interlock to form a hinge point with the separable pivot elements of the next dock section, when two successive rectangular dock sections are brought together in end-to-end relationship, and a latch member pivoted on each side of said dock section at one end thereof receivable in vertically spaced notches in said supporting legs for supporting the dock section against relative downward movement thereon.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 characterized by said hinge joints adapted to be engaged only when one dock section is swung to a plane out of the plane of the next section and then become inseparable when the dock sections are in substantial planar alignment.

10. A section of portable dock for watercraft comprising a rectangular panel having greater length than width and defined by side edges, a near-shore end and an off-shore end, a pair of legs positioned normal to the land and substantially uniformly adjacent the ofi-shore end, one leg being at each side edge of the panel, means for adjustably clamping the legs to the panel whereby the projection of the leg in a direction normal to the panel may be varied to suit bed contour of the area in which the dock is situated, a hinge coupling for joining successive dock sections comprising a pair of binge elements one adjacent each side edge of the dock on the near shore end of the dock and a pair of hinge elements adjacent each side edge of the dock and adjacent the off-shore end thereof, the hinge elements on the off-shore end of the dock cooperating with the hinge elements of the near-shore end of another successive dock section to form a hinge coupling between successive sections, latch members pivoted to said panel and receivable in vertically spaced notches in said legs for supporting the panel against relative downward movement thereon, and means for securing said latch members against pivotal movement thereby to lock the panel against relative up or down movement on said legs.

11. A section of portable dock for watercraft comprising a rectangular panel having greater length than width and defined by side edges, a near-shore end and an elf-shore end, a pair of legs positioned normal to the land and substantially uniformly adjacent the off-shore end, one leg being at each side edge of the panel, means for adjustably clamping the legs to the panel whereby the projection of the leg in a direction normal to the panel may be varied to suit bed contour of the area in which the dock is situated, a hinge coupling for joining successive dock sections comprising a pair of hinge elements one adjacent each side edge of the dock on the nearshore end of the dock and a pair of hinge elements adjacent each side edge of the dock and adjacent the off-shore end thereof, the hinge elements on the ofi-shore end of the dock cooperating with the hinge elements of the near-shore end of another successive dock section to form a hinge coupling between successive sections, the hinge elements being shaped so as to engage and couple to form a hinge joint when successive dock sections are moved substantially out of planar alignment and interlock to prevent separation one from the other when said dock sections are moved substantially into planar alignment, latch members pivoted to said panel and receivable in vertically spaced notches in said legs for supporting the panel against relative downward movement thereon, and means for securing said latch members against pivotal movement thereby to lock the panel against relative up or down movement on said legs.

CLARENCE T. HOLSTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,358,951 Helmich Nov. 16, 1920 1,912,049 Voorhees May 30, 1933 2,044,703 Kline June 16, 1936 

